Merchandise storage and dispensing rack



March 27, 1945.

E. F. KNOWLES ETAL MERCHANDISE STORAGE AND DISPENSING RACK Filed bet. :0. 1941 3mm DW/IV E/fA/OWLES All CLINTON a5 W/TT Patented Mar. 27', 1945 UNITED STATE MERCHANDISE STORAGE AND DISPENSIN RACK Edwin F. Knowles and Clinton M. De Witt, Phoenix, Ariz., assignors of two-thirds to said Knowles and one-third to said De Witt Application October 20, 1941, Serial No. 415,840

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a roller for use upon merchandise storage and dispensing racks, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eflicient means for clamping material, such as fabric and the like, firmly in engagement with the roller.

A further object of this invention is the pro-.

duction of a simple and efficient latching means for firmly clamping two segments of a roller in a gripping position,

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the rack;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of the roller, a portion of the rack being shown;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2, certain portions of the spring latching plate also being shown in section;

Figure 4 is a. transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that I l designates a roll-supporting frame which is provided with a roller-supporting rackor table 3| projecting from the frame I I.

A winding roller 56 extends longitudinally of the table 3| and across the front edge thereof and this winding roller 56 is supported upon a shaft 51. The roller 56 comprises a male segment 58 and a female segment 59, the male segment 58 being journaled to swing within the female segment 59. Segments 59 and 58 are provided with gripping flanges 60 and 6|, respectively, which flanges may be moved toward and away from each other forthe purpose (If selectively gripping or releasing material to be wound upon the roller 56. The female segment 59 carries a spring latching plate 62 which is adapted to overhang the male segment 58, as shown in Figure 3. The male segment 58 carries a locking pin 63 which is adapted to fit into a suitable aperture formed in the end of the spring latching plate 62 for holding the segments 58 and 59 in locking engagement. An anchoring lever 64 is pivotally mounted upon the table 3| adjacent the latching plate 62 and this lever 64 is provided with a finger 65 for engaging an aperture 66 formed in the latching plate 62 to lock the segment 59 in an anchored position. The segment 58 is keyed to the shaft 51, whereas the segment 59 is loosely mounted upon the shaft 51. Therefore, the shaft 51 may be rotated to move the segment 58 within the segment 59 and consequently move the flanges 60 and 6| toward or away from each other. The shaft 51 is providedvwith an operating crank 61 for the purpose of facilitating the rotation of the shaft 51. Consequently, when it is desired to open the segments to receive the end of the material to be measured, the segment 59 will be anchored by engagement with the lever 64 and the crank 61 will be rotated to move the flange 6| of the segment 58 away from the flange 60, and the spring latching plate 62 will permit the pin 63 to engage and to be disengaged from the latching plate 62 as the segment 58 is rotated in a selective clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction. When the end of the material is fitted between the flanges 69 and BI the segment 58 may be closed with respect to the segment 59, thereby .firmly gripping the material and anchoring the.

material in engagement with the winding roller 56. Thelever 64 is then disengaged from the roller 56 and by operating the crank 61, which is carried by one end of the shaft 51, the material may be wound upon the roller 56. A pawl and ratchet arrangement 68 is carried by the end of the table 3| and the shaft 51 respectively, to lock the roller 56 against rotation when desired. A suitable journal 10 supports the opposite end of the roller 56.

Having described the invention, what we claim as new is:

1. A roller of the class described comprising a pair of segments, one segment being rotatably mounted within the other segment, abutting gripping means carried by each segment and adaptedto clamp the edge of material flrmly in engagement with the roller between said abutting gripping means, a latching member carried by one segment and adapted to overhang and engage the other segment for locking the respective segments in a clamping position, releasable means for engaging and locking one segment in a set position, and means for rotating the other segment to move the abutting gripping means apart.

2. A roller of the class described comprising a pair of segments, one segment being rotatably mounted within the other segment, abutting gripping means carried .by each segment and adapted to clamp the edge of material firmly in engagement with the roller between said abutting gripping means, a latching member carried by one segment and adatped to overhang and engage the other segment for locking the respective segments in a clamping position, releasable means for engaging and locking one segment in a set position, means for rotating the other segment to move the abutting gripping means'apart', said releasable means comprising a lever mounted adjacent said roller, one of said segments having a socket for receiving said lever to hold the segment in looking position, and said latching member comprising an apertured spring latching plate for receiving a pin carried by the other member.

EDWIN F. KNOWLES. CLINTON M. DE WITT. 

